Abandoned cars line streets of Parramore

Updated: Feb 28, 2014 - 3:01 PM

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Abandoned cars line streets of Parramore

PARRAMORE, Fla. - There's a lot of work going on to revitalize Orlando's Parramore neighborhood, but in spite of all that progress, Channel 9 noticed a pile of abandoned junk cars near Jackson Street and Orange Blossom Trail.

Just hours after WFTV's Mario Boone contacted the city, officials spent Friday citing the vehicles for dozens of code violations.

Investigators wrote tickets and took pictures of nearly a dozen cars they believe were abandoned in Parramore.

Some of the cars have been sitting on Jackson Street for so long that weeds began sprouting up from them.

"It's been a long history there," said Orlando Code Enforcement Director Mike Rhodes.

Code enforcement said they believe two mechanic shops with 20 years' worth of prior violations are the culprits.

Tommy Tran, the owner of one of the accused businesses, said none of the cars belonged to his business.

"No. Maybe the shop right next to us," he told Boone.

But the shop across the street also denied responsibility.

"The city says they keep coming here repeatedly to ticket these vehicles and you won't move them?" said Boone.

"I don't have nothing to do with it," said a man who worked at the shop.

But just one hour after code enforcement left, Channel 9 saw the same man remove the tickets and try to start one of the vehicles.

The owners have 72 hours to move the cars off the city street or they will be towed.

In addition to having the cars towed, the city can levy big fines against the businesses or people responsible.